Many of our member hospitals have made eliminating polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) from clinical products and devices a top priority, by creating PVC- and DEHP-free purchasing policies as part of their larger institutional safer chemicals policy, and by targeting specific hospital areas, such as the NICU, or product categories one-by-one.
Switching to products that are free of both PVC and DEHP is beneficial to patient safety. The Food and Drug Administration has recommended hospitals limit exposures to DEHP for sensitive populations, especially male neonates and infants.
Learn more about PVC and DEHP from Health Care Without Harm's research
- A problematic plastic: Health care should avoid products made with PVC and the additive DEHP
- Polyvinyl chloride in health care: A rationale for choosing alternatives
PVC and DEHP elimination goal
Eliminate PVC and DEHP from at least two high-priority product categories.
We’ve worked with hospital and health system members to identify high-priority product categories as defined by the potential for exposures and the availability of safer alternatives, including:
- Breast pumps and accessories
- Enteral nutrition products
- Enteral tubes
- General urological supplies
- Gloves
- Parenteral infusion devices and sets
- Respiratory therapy products
- Vascular catheters
Practice Greenhealth offers step-by-step resources and that will make it simpler for any hospital with a PVC and DEHP elimination goal to design, implement, and measure the success of their efforts.
